Williamsville North evens division record at 3-3

The Williamsville North softball team evened their division record at 3-3 with two league wins this past week.

The Lady Spartans defeated Orchard Park on Monday, 7-1, and defeated last year's Section VI champions, West Seneca West, 4-2, on Tuesday, April 24. Mother Nature continued to rule the spring sports season as league games against Lancaster and Jamestown were rained out.

The Lady Spartans opened a 3-0 lead on Orchard Park in the third inning. Morgan McDowell and Krissy Flierl had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Lauren O'Brien followed with an RBI single to center, scoring McDowell and advancing Flierl to third. Kaitlyn McNally sacrificed O'Brien to second and both girls scored on a line drive single by Tricia Kennery.

North also tacked three more runs in the sixth inning. Erica Stricko opened the inning with a single and scored on a triple over the center fielder's head by Liz Dutweiler. Dutweiler scored on a double by Kayleigh Galliher to right field and Galliher scored on a fielder's choice.

Kennery limited the Lady Quakers to just seven hits while striking out 11 and not allowing any walks.

The Lady Spartans continued their strong play against West Seneca West as they started quick, scoring three runs in the first.

O'Brien opened the game with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Stricko. Kennery followed with a double to the gap, coring O'Brien. Amanda Maraschiello followed with another double to the opposite field, scoring Kennery and Maraschiello scored on a passed ball.

West Seneca West responded by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth to close the gap to 3-2. Morgan McDowell answered for North with a two-out single and scored on an opposite field triple by Gallliher.

Kennery had another strong outing on the mound as she threw another complete game for her second win of the season. Kennery scattered nine hits while striking out eight and allowing no walks.

The Lady Spartans again hit the road for a tournament as they traveled to Victor for two games on Saturday. North opened up against Nazareth High School and Kennery was the star. Kennery tossed a one-hitter and struck out ten. She allowed a double in the first inning and didn't allow another hit the rest of the game. After the first inning, only one other ball left the infield. The Lady Spartans scored the only run they would need in the fourth. With one out, McNally walked, advanced to second on a passed ball, was sacrificed to third by Dutweiler and scored on a two-out single to center by Mc- Dowell for North's only run.

North's three-game winning streak came to a halt as they were soundly defeated by the Lady Blue Devils from Victor. Victor scored two unearned runs in the first inning and never looked back as they defeated the Lady Spartans. The Lady Spartans only run came in the seventh inning as Maraschiello reached base on a fielder's choice and ended up scoring on another fielder's choice.

Coach Bubar feels the Lady Spartans have turned the corner and are starting to play better defensively and Kennery has worked back from an early season foot injury to anchor the pitching. The Lady Spartans were dealt a serious blow when starting first baseman and Canisius College bound Kerry Ulmer was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Ulmer joins Jen Pawlak also out with mono on the bench. Hopefully both players will be back when the playoffs roll around.

North has a busy slate this week as they travel to Frontier for a rematch on Monday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

North returns home for a game against Clarence on Wednesday. On Thursday, North will host Lancaster in a make up game and host Sweet Home on Friday. On Saturday, the Lady Spartans are entered in the Depew Tournament and are scheduled for a game at 11 a.m. against Williamsville South at Walden Pond.